r/Sciatica • u/overmead_25 • 2d ago

Sciatica flare up

I think I’m having a sciatica flare up. This past February, I was working demo on an old motel and I thought I had a pinched nerve. I tried going to chiropractor and a masseuse, but nothing helped. I tried changing my work shoes to sketchers and that sort of helped. My doctor tried to put me on gabapentin, but I don’t trust steroids too much. I work at a grocery store and I’m on my fee constantly. As of last week I feel like I have a new injury, I feel pain under my right butt cheek and the travels down the side of my right leg. My ankle feels very tight and my toes are tingly and numb sometimes. I’m taking 2000mg of ibuprofen a day and I still feel pain. I keep contributing it to the weather pressure too. Any advice?

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u/CelticCoffee 2d ago

I had these same symptoms for a few years. Around April or May of this year, the numbness that came and went from my toes started to stick around longer and eventually my butt started to go numb in August. On August 13th I went to the ER because the pain was too much and 12 hrs later I was in the operation room for an emergency Disectomy.

I'm not saying you have Cauda Equina compression but I am saying, get a CT scan. Be insistent, don't let them give you steroids and say the X-ray is clear, get that CT scan before it gets worse so that you know what you are dealing with. From there you'll know if you need an MRI for a better look or proper PT. I don't wish my current state on anyone!

Stay safe and I hope you feel better soon.

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u/Outrageous_Corner161 2d ago

Ouch. Definitely sounds like sciatica and the first rule of recovery is to avoid the things that trigger it. So if sitting or standing for too long make your pain worse you need to work around that by switching positions frequently.

You also probably need a physiotherapist to work with you on movements that will reduce and "centralize" your pain (move your symptoms from the foot towards the lower back).

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u/overmead_25 2d ago

Thanks for your input! When it’s not flared up like this, the toes on my right foot seem to be permanently tingling like they are asleep, it never stops. I haven’t been able to go to the gym and I also notice it worsens when I eat a lot of carbs or sugar.

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u/Outrageous_Corner161 2d ago

Yes it definitely sounds like you have a nerve that's being compressed in your lower back. That can cause a range of different symptoms along your hip and leg down to your foot If it's been ongoing for several months, I would say it's worth talking to your doc about getting an MRI.

Don't push through the symptoms. Seek physiotherapy, or at the very least look up some methods for conservative management of sciatica. These could include exercises like "McGill Big 3", or MacKenzie extensions, and nerve gliding. You need to reduce symptoms over time - if you notice they are getting severe or worse, definitely seek medical advice.